DETROIT -- Things are starting to look up for Tigers rookie Brennan Boesch.

Following Wednesday’s game, which saw the 25-year-old record his third hit in as many games, Tigers manager Jim Leyland confirmed he has no plans of demoting the left-handed slugger.

“For now, we’ve decided to let him grind it out,” Leyland said. “He’s a real keeper and I really like him a lot.”

Leyland admitted Wednesday to meetings last week with coaches and team officials about possibly sending Boesch to Triple-A Toledo. The club decided to watch his progress over the weekend before making a final decision.

Boesch, unaware of the team meetings, entered last Friday’s game riding an 8-for-80 slump. He's gone 5-for-16 in his last six games, including a solo home run Friday, which snapped a streak of 126 homerless at-bats.

“I don’t want to go down,” Boesch said following Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Tampa Bay. “That’s the first I’ve heard of that.”

Boesch continues to lead American League rookies with 14 home runs, 55 RBIs and 37 extra-base hits, but has hit a dismal .135 in the second half. Leyland cited the success starter Max Scherzer has displayed since he was optioned May 16 as a reason to possibly demote Boesch. Scherzer has a 2.51 ERA in 14 starts since being recalled on May 30.

“I don’t know what the best solution is, I’ll be honest,” Leyland said of Boesch. “It’s a tough decision, but I’ve decided that it’s best for the organization right now if we stay with him because I think he’s one of the futures.

“He’s relaxing more again. I don’t want to tear the kid up and I think he can handle it -- I’ll just pick some spots and watch him.”

Boesch, a late-April call-up, burst onto the Tigers scene in the first half, hitting .342 with 12 homers and 49 RBIs. His batting average has dropped 59 points since July 16.

“I don’t think there’s been many players that come in and hit .350 all year,” Boesch said. “It was nice to have that first half, but pitchers make adjustments, I make adjustments and you just keep moving forward.